Time delay switch device

ABSTRACT

A time delay switch device using a mechanical clock means consisting of a spiral spring and gearings. The actual on or off operation takes place by actuating a switch button but with a given time delay from the actuation.

United States Patent 1191 1111 3,819,885

Moroto et al. June 25, 1974 TIME DELAY SWITCH DEVICE 3.117,191 1/1964 Page 200/39 R ,2 3 2 39 l [75] Inventors: Mom); Sunk" both of 3,225.38; 7ii lii e il et al. 380/382; y Japan 3.267.659 8/1966 Hancock 200/38 F x Assignee: Zenkosha Tokie Kabushiki Kaisha, 3,7l5,880 2/1973 S|mons 200/35 W X Aichi Prefecture, Japan 22 F] d: D 14, 1972 Primary Examiner-James R. Scott 1 I 6 EC Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Waters, Roditi, Schwartz & [21] Appl. No; 315,190 Nissen [30] Foreign Application Priority Data Dec. 16. 1971 Japan ..46-l02382 [57] ABSTRACT [52] Us. CL 200/35 R, 200/33 R ZOO/371R A time delay switch device using a mechanical clock 200/46 eans consisting of a spiral spring and gearings. The 51 1111.01. 110111 7/08, HOlh 43/00 actual Q" or Off Operation takes Place by actuating 5 Field of Search 200/33 R 35 R, 35 W, 37 R, switch button but with a given time delay from the ac- 200/37 A, 38 R, 38 F, 38 PB, 39 R, 40

6 Claims, 19 Drawing Figures [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,3l3,569 3/1943 Muntheser 200/35 R TIME DELAY SWITCH DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to a switch device, and more particularly to a so-called time delay switch device which manually or automatically carries out turn-on or turn-off operation with a certain time delay after such operation is ordered to the switch device by actuation of a switch button or the like.

2. Description of the Prior Art There are several types of time delay switches for manual or automatic control of illumination and industrial processes: namely, a type which provides a desired time delay by using a time constant of an electric circuit including a capacitor and a resistor, a type which provides a controllable delay time by adding a suitable regulator to the capacitor-resistor circuit for varrying the time constant thereof, and a type which provides a certain time delay by using a bimetal element.

The capacitor-resistor type time delay switch has a shortcoming in that its accuracy of delay time is comparatively low and a long delay time is difficult to achieve. In an additional regulating circuitry is added to the capacitor-resistor type time delay switch for overcoming the aforesaid shortcoming, it is usually necessary to use electronic elements therein, so that the time delay switch of the type becomes bulky and costly. The bimetal type time delay switch has a shortcoming in that its accuracy of delay time is comparatively low and the set delay time of the bimetal element tends to fluctuate as time elapses. Accordingly, the stability of the bimetal type time delay switch is rather low.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to obviate the aforesaid difficulties of the conventional time delay switches, by providing an improved time delay switch-device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In a time delay switch device according to the present invention, a mechanical timer element is used, together with a means for setting the delay time of the timer element. The timer element is mechanically operatively connected to a movable electric contact, which selectively engages a cooperating stationary electric contact. Whereby, upon elapse of a delay time set on the mechanical timer, the electric circuit between the movable contact and the stationary contact is turned on or turned off, depending on the set-up of the switch.

A specific object of the present invention is to provide a highly accurate and reliable time delay switch device at a low cost, which uses a mechanical timer element without using any electric or electronic delay element, while ensuring ability to allow setting of the delay time over a wide'range, inclusive of a very-long delay time. I

Another object of the present invention is to provide a time delay switch device of the aforesaid type, which can be constructed in a small size, whereby the time delay switch device may .be applied to various industrial uses.

- DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWING Other objects and advantages of the present invention may be appreciated by referring to the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view with parts broken away, of the assembled device of the present invention;

FIG. 1A is a schematic plan view, illustrating the inner structure of a first embodiment of the time delay switch device according to the present invention;

FIG. 1B is a sectional view of the device shown in FIG. 1A;

FIG. 1C is an exploded perspective view of a switch actuating button and a tread member of the switch device of FIG. 1A;

FIG. ID is an exploded perspective view of a cam mechanism for regulating delay time in the switch of FIG. 1A;

FIG. 1B is a view similar to FIG. 18, showing a different operative position of the switch device;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing the structural details of the spring winding mechanism of the device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 2A-l is a schematic perspective view of a second embodiment of the time delay switch device according to the present invention, shown in a just turned-on state;

FIG. 2A-2 is a fragmentary sectional view of the relation between a tread member and a stopper thereof, for the condition as shown in FIG. 2A-l;

FIG. 2B-l is a schematic perspective view of the switch device of FIG. 2A-l, shown in a continuous switchedon state;

FIG. 28-2 is a view similar to FIG. 2A2, for the conditions of FIG. 2B-l;

FIGS. 3A and 3B are sectional views, showing a third embodiment of the time delay switch device of the present invention, using a different cam structure;

FIGS. 4A and 4B are a partially cut away end view and a partially cutaway side view, respectively, showing the tumed-off condition of a fourth embodiment of the time delay switch device of the present invention;

. FIGS. 4C and 4D are views similar to FIGS. 4A and 48, respectively, showing the turned-on condition of the fourth embodiment;

FIG. 5 isa partially cut away side view of a fifth embodiment of the time delay switch'device according to the present invention, illustrating inner structure thereof; and

FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram for controlling electric loads at difi'erent floors of a multi-storied building, such as illuminations thereof, while using a time delay switch according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS is surrounded by projecting walls 182. The lid-holding plate 20 and the decorative plate 22 have aligned openings 201 and 221 through which the projecting walls 182 extend. The casing 12 with the switch mechanism 14 is, for instance, installed in a building wall, and then the switch button 16, the 18, and the lid-holding plate 20 are mounted thereon. The decorative plate 22 is placed on the lid-holding plate 20, and the entire time delay switch device 10 is fastened to a suitable holding member (not shown) of the building wall by means of screws 24 penetrating through holes 202 and 222 of the lid-holding plate 20 and the decorative plate 22. The holding means (not shown) is, of course, separatively fastened to the building wall for receiving the time delay switch device 10. The decorative plate 22 is to enhance the attractive appearance of the switch device 10, and it can be dispensed with if so desired.

Referring to FIG. 1A, the time delay switching mechanism 14 is disposed between an outer frame 30 and an inner frame 28, which frames are carried by a pair of supports 32, 32. The time delay switch mechanism 14 comprises a clock means 26 having a spiral spring 34 and a gearing means 36; conductors 42, 44 extending through the casing 12; electric contacts 38 and 40 secured to free ends of the conductors 42 and 44; and a delaying operation means 46 which, in response to the actuation of the switch button 16, winds upt the spiral spring 34 so as to cause the actual making or breaking of an electric circuit between the electric contacts 38 and 40 only after a certain delay time from the moment of actuating the switch button 16. The delay time is produced by allowing the spiral spring 34 to unwind by itself after the aforesaid winding up by the delaying operation means 46.

The clock means 26 includes a main or first shaft 48 on which a main gear 50, the spiral spring 34 and a stopper 341 for the spring 34 are mounted. One end of the spiral spring 34 is secured to a shaft fixed to the frames 28, 30 and the other end is mechanically connected to the main shaft 48 through the stopper 341 fixed to the latter. The clock means 26 also includes a plurality of geared shafts 52 each of which is rotatably journaled to the inner and outer frames 28, 30 at each end and carries a gear 54, so that the main gear 50 mounted on the main shaft 48 meshes with the first geared shaft. The first gear fixedly mounted on the first geared shaft meshes with the second geared shaft. The second gear fixedly mounted on the second geared shaft meshes with the third geared shaft and so on.

The main gear 50 can rotate in one direction by the releasing action of the spring 34 due to the stopper 341 which releasably engages with the main gear 50 but does not rotate in another direction, since the gear 50 meshes with the gearings 52, 54 and thus has a high frictional resistance. The structure of the clock means 26 per se is known and does not constitute the subject matter of the present invention, so that further details of the clock means 26 will be dealt with here.

The first shaft 48 of the clock means 26 has an extended portion 481, which extends into the inner frame 28 and carries a fixed cam 58 secured thereto. A rotatable cam 56 is rotatably fitted on the extended shaft portion 481 so as to engage a part of said fixed cam 58. Referring to 16. the fixed cam 58 has a projection 581 which operatively engages the rotatable cam 56 at a notch 561 thereof. Referring to FIGS. 1A, 1D, and 1E, a lever 60 is secured to the extended portion 481 of the main shaft 48, so that the lever radially extends from the extended shaft portion 481. When the free end 601 of the lever 60 is pressed downward, as seen in FIG. 1B,

the extended shaft portion 481 and the main shaft 48 are turned in such a manner that the spiral spring 34 is wound up by the actions of the main gear 50 and spring stopper 341 in usual manner. A stud 62 is provided within the inner frame 28 of the clock means 26, so as to swayably hold a swing cam 64 at one end thereof, as shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 1E. The swing cam 64 has an upper edge 641 engaging a part of the conductor 44 and a lower edge 642 engaging either cam surface 562 or cam notch 563 of the rotatable cam 56, as can be seen from FIGS. 1B and 1D.

At the free end of the extended shaft portion 481 of the main shaft 48, there are provided two portions decreased in diameter. The first portion is larger in diameter than the second one and carries the rotatable cam 56 and the second portion carries the fixed cam 58, so that the axial movement of the rotatable cam 56 can be prevented.

Referring to FIG. 1C, a tread member 66 is provided for transmitting the movement of the switch button 16 to the lever 60. The switch button 16 has wedge-shaped projections 161 which swingably engage V-shaped notches 183 of the lid 18. The tread member 66 has a leaf spring 661 which is mounted on the casing 12 of the time delay switch 10. Thus, the switch button 16 acts as a tumbler switch knob. To ensure smooth movement of the tread member 66, a small projection 162 is formed at one end of the tumbler switch button 16, as shown in FIG. 1C.

The operation or function of the time delay switch device of the present invention will now be described by referring to FIGS. 1B and 1E. When the time dealy switch 10 is in turned-off state, as shown in FIG. 1B, if the right-hand side of the tumbler switch button 16 is depressed, the tread member 66 moves downward for causing the lever 60 to swing clockwise. Whereby, the extended portion 481 of the main shaft 48 turns in such a direction that the spiral spring 34 (FIG. 1A) is wound up. Prior to the aforesaid depression of the right-hand side of the tumbler switch button 16, a pointed lower edge 1610 of wedge-shaped projection 161 of the button 16 is placed to the right of a central bent portion 661a (FIG. 1C) of the tread member 66, as shown in FIG. 1B. Upon the aforesaid depression, the pointed lower edge 161a of the wedge-shaped projection 161 moves to the left of the central bent portion 661a of the leaf spring 661 of the tread member 66, so that the button 16 is stably held at the rightwardly-swung position, as shown in FIG. 1E. In response to the clockwise rotation .of the extended portion 481, the fixed cam 58 secured thereto forces the rotatable cam 56 to turn clockwise. As a result, the lower edge 642 of the swing cam 64, which has been placed in the notch 563 of the rotatable cam 56, now leaves the notch 563 and moves to the cam surface 562. Thus, the swing cam 64 is forced to swing in a counterclockwise direction, as seen in FIG. 1B, so that the upper edge 641 acts to force the conductor 44 upward for bringing the movable contact 40 secured thereto to the cooperating stationary contact 38 connected to the other conductor 42. whereby, the circuit between the conductors 42 and 44 is completed as shown in FIG. 1E.

The operation of the time delay switch 10 from the turned on position of FIG. IE to the turned-off position of FIG. 18 will now be described. As the left-hand side portion of the tumbler switch button 16 is depressed, it swings from the rightwardly-swung position of FIG. IE to the left-wardly-swung position of FIG. 1B, so that the tread member 66 is freed from depressing forced which has previously been applied thereto by the righthand end portion of the switch button 16. At the same time, the previously wound-up spiral spring 34 (FIG. 1A) begins to gradually unwind itself. Resistance is provided against the unwinding of the spiral spring 34 by secondary gears shafts 52 through the secondary gears 54 and the main gear 50 secured to the main shaft 48, so that the unwinding of the spring 34 and the counterclockwise rotation of the main shaft 48 are declerated.

In response to this declerated rotation of the main shaft 48 caused by the unwinding of the main spiral spring 34, the extended portion 481 also gradually rotates in a counterclockwise direction, so as to gradually raise the free end of the lever 60 from the lowermost position thereof. At the same time, the rotatable cam 52 is also gradually sturned counterclockwise by the extended portion 481 of the main shaft 48. The swing cam 64 is, however, held stationary as long as the lower edge 642 of the cam 64 engages the cam surface 562 of the rotatable cam 56. Whereby, the upper edge 641 of the swing cam 64 acts to keep the conductor 44 as urged upward so as to maintain the electric circuit between the contacts 40 and 38 as closed. When the extended portion 481 turns to such an extent that the rotatable cam 56 causes the lower edge 642 of the swing cam 64 to move from the cam surface 562 to the notch 563 of the rotatable cam 56, the swing cam 64 suddenly turns in a clockwise direction, so that the upward urging of the conductor 44 by the upper edge 64] of the swing cam 64 is released. The conductor 44 is biased by a suitable means, e.g., by the elasticity thereof, in such a direction that. upon release of the upward urging. the conductor 44 swings downward for separating the movable contact 40 away from the stationary contact 38. Thereby, the electric circuit between the contacts 38 and 40 of the time delay switch device 10 is interrupted, as shown in FIG. 1B.

With the embodiment of FIGS. 1A to IE, the actuation of the tumbler switch button 16 from its turned-off position to its turned-on position results in an immediate closing of the electric circuit between the stationary contact 38 and the movable contact 40, while winding up the spiral spring 34 of the clock means 26. On the other hand, the turning of the tumbler switch button 16 from its turned-on position to its turned-off position does not cause immediate separation of the movable contact 40 from the stationary contact 38, but the actual separation of the two electric contacts 38 and 40 is delayed from the actuation of the switch button 16 to the off position by a time period which is necessary for the rotatable cam 56 to turn by a predetermined angle and which is a function of the extent of the winding-up of the main spring 34 and resistance caused by the secondary gears 54 and the secondary shafts 52.

FIGS. ZA-l, 2A-2, 2B-l, and 28-2 illustrate a second embodiment of the time delay switch device according to the present invention. In the second embodiment, the functions which are accomplished by the tumbler switch button 16 of the first embodiment are carried out by a simple push button 16a, without using any tumbler switch button. The push button 16a is carried by a tread member 66a, which includes a solid cylindrical rod having a linear ridge 661a projecting radially outwardly from the cylindrical rod and extending in parallel with the axial center line of the rod, and a detent 662a secured to the cylindrical rod at such position that the detent 662a engages a lid (not shown) of the time delay switch for preventing the tread member 66a from moving away from the switch.

A swing cam 64a of this second embodiment includes a stopper 641a, which selectively engages the linear ridge 661a of the tread member 66a. In the second embodiment, an extended portion 4810 of a main shaft 48 carries a lever and a fixed cam 58 which are both identical to the similarly numbered lever and cam of the first embodiment. The rotatable cam 56a of the second embodiment is similar to the rotatable cam 56 of the first embodiment, except that a groove (not shown) engaging the fixed cam is not formed on the periphery but at the main body thereof.

The operation of the second embodiment of the invention will now be described by referring to FIGS. 2A-l, 2A2, 28-1, and 2B-2. FIGS. 2A-l and 2A-2 illustrate the push button 16a at its depressed position. Being depressed, the tread member 66a acts on the lever 60 at the buttom end thereof, so as to turn the lever 60 and the extended portion 4810 of the main shaft 48 and to cause the swing cam 64a to leave a notch of the rotatable cam 56a. As the swing cam 64a leaves the notch of the rotatable cam 56a and engage the peripheral cam surface of the cam 560, the swing cam 64a turns in a counterclockwise direction, as seen in the figures, for urging a conductor 44 upwards to complete an electric circuit between a movable contact 40 carried by the conductor 44 and a stationary contact 38 carried by another conductor. FIG. 2A-] shows the condition in which the two electric contacts are thus brought in touch with each other.

Referring to FIGS. 2B-l and 2B2, the tread member 660 is turned from the position of FIGS. 2Al, for the purpose of bringing the linear ridge 661a of the tread member 66a into operative engagement with the stopper 641a of the swing cam 64a. As apparent from the figures, the engagement of the linear ridge 661a with the stopper 641a prevents the swing cam 640 from swinging in the clockwise direction.

When the extended portion 481a of the main shaft (not shown) is turned clockwise by the lever 60 in response to the downward movement of the tread member 66a, a spiral spring (not shown) is wound up in the same manner as the first embodiment as described hereinbefore by referring to FIGS. 1A to 1E. The wound-up spiral spring (not shown) tends to turn the extended shaft portion 481a in a counterclockwise direction, but the engagement of the lower end of the tread member 66a and the lever 60 prevents such turning of the extended shaft portion 641a. If the push button 16a of the type that automatically return to its raised position upon removal of the depression, the aforesaid restriction of the counterclockwise rotation of the extend shaft portion 4810 by the engagement between the tread member 66a and the lever 60 is removed upon removal of the depression of the push button 16a. As the extended shaft portion 481a turns in the counterclockwise direction, the rotatable cam 56a is also turned counterclockwise by the action of the fixed cam 58. When the rotatable cam 56a comes to a position where the lower edge of the swing cam 64a to engage a notch of the cam 56a, the swing cam 64a tends to turn clockwise for opening the electric circuit between the contacts 38 and 40. The aforesaid engagement between the linear ride 661a and the stopper 64 la, however, prevents such clockwise rotation of the swing cam 64a and keeps the electric circuit between the contacts 38 and 40 as closed. Such condition of the switch is referred to as continuous turned-on position in the specification.

Thus, with the second embodiment of the delay switch of the present invention, the tread member 66a is turned clockwise after turning on the switch, so as to keep the switch at the continuous turned-on position. It is apparent that, without the clockwise turning of the tread member 660, the switch will be turned off upon return of the tread member 66a to its upermost position with a predetermined time delay from the moment of such return.

In the case of the second embodiment of the invention, the switch may be turned off with or without time delay. To turn off without time delay, it is sufficient to simply turn the tread member 660 in a counterclockwise direction from a raised position relative to the position as shown in FIGS. 23-1 and 25-2. To turn off with the time delay, the tread member 660 is straightly depressed from the raised position to the position as shown in FIGS. 2B] and 28-2, for winding up the spiral spring, and the tread member 66a is turned counterclockwise to the position as shown in FIGS. 2A-l and 2A-2 and then released to its raised position.

FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate a third embodiment of the time delay switch according to the present invention. The third embodiment is similar to the first embodiment except the configuration of the rotatable cam 56. Referring to FIG. ID, the rotatable cam 56 has only two recessed portions; namely, the groove 561 for receiving the projection 581 and the other notch 563 engageable with the lower edge 642 of the swing cam 64. On the other hand, the rotatable cam 56b of the third embodiment has three recessed portions; namely, a groove 56lb corresponding to the groove 561 of the first embodiment, a notch 563b corresponding to the notch 563 of the first embodiment, and a step-like recessed portion 564b. The rotatable cam 56b of the third embodiment is useful for those applications where the completion of the circuit through the timer switch should be kept as closed only for a limited angular positions of the main shaft 48, and as soon as a specific angular range of the shaft 48 is exceeded, the timer switch should be turned off. The step-like recessed portion 563!) serves for turning off the timer switch when a given angular range of the main shaft 48 is exceeded.

FIGS. 4A to 4D illustrate a fourth embodiment of the time delay switch according to the present invention. The differences of the fourth embodiment from the first embodiment as shown in FIGS. 1A to IE are in the shapes and structures of the tumbler switch button, the tread member, the shaft actuating lever, and the rotatable cam. The fourth embodiment uses a tampler switch button 16c which a slit l6lc at one end thereof. An eye hole 661a is bored through one end of a tread member 66c, and the thus eyed end of the tread member 66c is inserted in the slit l6lc and pivotally connected thereto by a pin 163C which penetrates through holes l62c across the slit 1610 of the button 16c and the eye hole 66lc of the tread member 66c. The lower end or leg portion of the tread member 660 is bifurcated, so as to receive the free end of a lever 600 between the two legs at the bifurcated end of the tread member 66c. To facilitate the engagement with the bifurcated portion of the tread member 66c, the free end of the lever 60c may have a small diameter portion. Such small diameter portion may be formed by threadedly connecting a screw 6010 with a head at the free end of the lever 60c, as specifically shown in FIG. 4D, The configuration of the rotatable cam 56c of the fourth embodiment is identical with that of the second embodiment, as described hereinbefore by referring to 2A-1 to 2B-2. The fourth embodiment uses a swing cam 640 which is substantially the same as the swing cam 64 of the first embodiment in the function thereof.

With the fourth embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 4A to 4D, the time delay switch can turned on instatantly, but it can be turned off only with a certain time delay. The operation for such instant tum-on and delayed tum-off is substantially the same as that of the first embodiment, as described hereinbefore by referring to FIGS. 1A to IE.

In FIGS. 4A to 4D, reference numeral 68 represents a leaf spring having opposite ends supported by a casing. The leaf spring 68 serves to stabilize the tumbler switch button 16c at each of the turned-on and turnedoff positions. Thus, the leaf spring 68 of the fourth embodiment corresponds to the member 661 of the first embodiment. FIG. 4B shows a ledge 121v formed on the inner wall ofa casing 12c for holding the end portion of the leaf spring 68.

FIG. 5 shows a fifth embodiment of the time delay switch according to the present invention, which is a simplification of the preceding first to fourth embodiments by eliminating the swing cam 64, or 640. With the fifth embodiment, one end of a lever 60d is secured to an extended portion 481d of a main shaft of a clock means 26d. A rotatable cam 56d is rotatably mounted on the free end of the extended shaft portion 481d so as to be actuated by a fixed cam 58d secured to the extended shaft portion 48d.

Upon depression of a push button 16d, a tread member 66d pivotally connected to the push button 16d acts to swing the lever 60d in a clockwise direction, for winding up a spiral spring (not shown) having one end secured to the main shaft (not shown) of the clock means 26d. At the same time, the rotatable cam 56a is also turned clockwise together with the extended shaft portion 48d. The rotatable cam 48d has a notch 561d formed along the periphery thereof, for operatively receiving a downward projection 441d of a conductor 44d carrying a movable contact 40. A fixed contact 38, which cooperates with the movable contact 40, is electrically connected to another conductor 42 fixed to a switch casing, When the extended shaft portion 48d is rotated by the lever 60d or the spiral spring (not shown), if the downward projection 441d of the conductor 44 engages the non-notched peripheral surface of the rotatable cam 56d, the conductor 44 is pushed upward. Accordingly, the movable contact 40 comes in electrically contact with the fixed contact 38. On the other hand, if the downward projection 441d of the conductor 44 engages the notch 561d of the rotatable cam 56, the conductor 44 swings downward, so that the movable contact 40 is separated from the fixed contact 38. Thus, with the fifth embodiment, the downward projection 441d of the conductor 44 fulfills the function of the swing cum 64 or 640 of the preceding embodiments.

HO. 6 illustrates a schematic circuit diagram which includes a time delay switch according to the present invention. In the figure, K K K represent electric loads located at different floors of a multistoried building, such as illuminating loads for each of the different floors. Selective switches S S S are connected in series with the loads, respectively. Each selective switch has one movable contact and three fixed contacts, including a fixed contact a for a timer circuit, a fixed contact b for turn-off, and a fixed contact for continuous turn-on. All the fixed contacts c of the selective switches are connected to a time delay switch S, which is contructed according to the principles of the present invention.

In operation of the illuminating circuit of FIG. 6, those loads which are desired to be continuously energized should be connected to the fixed contact 0 of the selective switches. The illuminating loads which are desired to be immediately turned off should be connected to the fixed contacts b of the selective switches. The selective switches which are connected to loads to be turned off with a time delay should be turned to the fixed contacts 0 thereof, respectively. Thereafter, upon actuation of the switch button (not shown) of the time delay switch S, the illuminating loads in series with the contacts a of the selective switches will be turned off after a certain delay time which is present on the time delay switch S. The time delay switch S of FIG. 6 can be any one of the first to fifth embodiments which have been described hereinbefore by reverring to FIGS. 1A to 5.

In the foregoing description, it has been assumed that the time delay switch is turned on instantly by the actuation of the switch button, but it is turned off after a certain delay time from the actuation of the switch button for turn-off. It should be understood that the present invention is not restricted to such arrangement. For instance, it is also possible to carry out instant turn-off and delayed turn-on by suitably modifying selected elements of the time delay switch: namely, by reversing the positional relation between the rotatable cam and the swing cam, or by rever in the rotating direction of the rotatable cam in response to the depression of the lever by insertin a suitable gearing means between the lever and the main shaft of the clock means.

Although the present invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure has been made only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and the scope of the present invention as hereinafter claimed.

we claim:

1. A time delay switch device, comprising a switch housing; switch actuating means movable between at least two operative positions and protruding from said 10 housing; clock means comprising a frame member, a main shaft rotatably supported by said frame member, a spiral spring mounted on said main shaft, a spring stopper for connecting one end of said spiral spring to said main shaft, an auxiliary shaft held by said frame member and connected to the other end of said spiral spring for winding and rewinding said spiral spring in response to the turning of said main shaft, a main gear mounted on said main shaft and rotatable in one direction by releasing action of said spiral spring due to said spring stopper, and gearing meshing with said main gear for reducing the turning speed of said main gear due to releasing action of said spiral spring and imparting substantially high frictional resistance to prevent said main gear from turning in the other direction, when said spiral spring is to be wound-up; lever means attached to a portion of said main shaft and actuated by said switch actuating means to rotate said main shaft and wind-up said spiral spring; said portion of said main shaft projecting from said frame member; cam means for comprising a fixed cam secured to the free end of said main shaft, a rotatable cam mounted on the main shaft and having a groove loosely receiving a projection of said fixed cam, and a swing cam pivotally mounted on a stud secured to said frame member and engageable with a notch of said rotatable cam; and electrical conductor means carrying stationary and movable contacts, said movable contact being subject to contact with the stationary contact by the action of said swing cam driven by said rotatable cam connected to said main shaft through said fixed cam.

2. The time delay switch device according to claim 1, wherein said switch actuating means is a tumbler button having projecting portions engageable with an upper portion of said housing, said button actuating said lever through a tread member and having a plate spring to hold said button at one of turned-on and turned-off positions.

3. The time delay switch device according to claim 1, wherein said switch actuating means comprises a spring-biased push button having a tread member to actuate said lever.

4. The time delay switch device according to claim 2, wherein said switch actuating means further comprises a detent which prevents returning of the tread member from a lowered position to a raised position to hold the stationary and movable contacts in contact state.

5. The time delay switch device according to claim 4, wherein said detent comprises a pin rotatable by turning said push button and planted on said tread member, and a bar member mounted on said pin and movable together with said swing cam at a predetermined angle to the latter.

6. The time delay switch device according to claim 4, wherein said detent comprises a linear ridge on said tread member and a rotatably mounted bar member swingable together with said swing cam at a predetermined angle to said swing cam. 

1. A time delay switch device, comprising a switch housing; switch actuating means movable between at least two operative positions and protruding from said housing; clock means comprising a frame member, a main shaft rotatably supported by said frame member, a spiral spring mounted on said main shaft, a spring stOpper for connecting one end of said spiral spring to said main shaft, an auxiliary shaft held by said frame member and connected to the other end of said spiral spring for winding and rewinding said spiral spring in response to the turning of said main shaft, a main gear mounted on said main shaft and rotatable in one direction by releasing action of said spiral spring due to said spring stopper, and gearing meshing with said main gear for reducing the turning speed of said main gear due to releasing action of said spiral spring and imparting substantially high frictional resistance to prevent said main gear from turning in the other direction, when said spiral spring is to be wound-up; lever means attached to a portion of said main shaft and actuated by said switch actuating means to rotate said main shaft and wind-up said spiral spring; said portion of said main shaft projecting from said frame member; cam means for comprising a fixed cam secured to the free end of said main shaft, a rotatable cam mounted on the main shaft and having a groove loosely receiving a projection of said fixed cam, and a swing cam pivotally mounted on a stud secured to said frame member and engageable with a notch of said rotatable cam; and electrical conductor means carrying stationary and movable contacts, said movable contact being subject to contact with the stationary contact by the action of said swing cam driven by said rotatable cam connected to said main shaft through said fixed cam.
 2. The time delay switch device according to claim 1, wherein said switch actuating means is a tumbler button having projecting portions engageable with an upper portion of said housing, said button actuating said lever through a tread member and having a plate spring to hold said button at one of turned-on and turned-off positions.
 3. The time delay switch device according to claim 1, wherein said switch actuating means comprises a spring-biased push button having a tread member to actuate said lever.
 4. The time delay switch device according to claim 2, wherein said switch actuating means further comprises a detent which prevents returning of the tread member from a lowered position to a raised position to hold the stationary and movable contacts in contact state.
 5. The time delay switch device according to claim 4, wherein said detent comprises a pin rotatable by turning said push button and planted on said tread member, and a bar member mounted on said pin and movable together with said swing cam at a predetermined angle to the latter.
 6. The time delay switch device according to claim 4, wherein said detent comprises a linear ridge on said tread member and a rotatably mounted bar member swingable together with said swing cam at a predetermined angle to said swing cam. 